Blue Spot

The Associated Press: NY Rep. King interested in NY Senate seat

WASHINGTON (AP) — New York Republican congressman Peter King told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he is preparing for a run for the New York Senate seat, even if that means facing off against Caroline Kennedy.

"I am seriously considering the race for Hillary Clinton's seat," King told The AP. "I'm very serious about it."

The eight-term lawmaker from Long Island said New York's GOP chairman Joseph Mondello "supports me 100 percent," and that state Conservative Party chair Michael Long has responded positively.

The son of an NYPD lieutenant, King said he "would genuinely represent the interests of blue-collar conservatives."

King's announcement is the latest twist in a political drama over who will succeed Clinton should she be confirmed as President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of state.

Her successor would be appointed by New York Gov. David Paterson, and about a dozen Democrats are vying for that position. Kennedy's family has said she is interested in the seat.

Whoever is appointed would hold the job for two years, and run for election in 2010, against King or some other New York Republican.

King said the appointment of Kennedy would not scare him out of the campaign.

Labels: Caroline Kennedy, Rep. Peter King, The Kennedys

Labels: Election 2008, Hillary, The Kennedys

Emanuel to Kennedy: Thats Not Nice - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog

On a day when it seemed that everybody was beating up on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton — even “Saturday Night Live” had run a skit making fun of her -– one person came to her defense on Sunday: Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, a top Democrat in the House.

Mr. Emanuel called to assail Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, for remarks he made when asked about the possibility of Senator Barack Obama of Illinois choosing Mrs. Clinton, of New York, as his running-mate.
“I have a lot of respect for Ted Kennedy, but I don’t know how the hell he comes off saying that,” said Mr. Emanuel, who has ties to Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama and has not endorsed in the race. “The gratuitous attack on her is uncalled for and wrong. He is a better senator than that comment reveals.”

Mr. Emanuel was responding to an interview with Mr. Kennedy on Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital With Al Hunt.” In the interview, Mr. Kennedy said he did not think it was possible that Mr. Obama, whom Mr. Kennedy has endorsed, would pick Mrs. Clinton for his ticket should he clinch the nomination.

He went on to say that Mr. Obama should pick someone who was “in tune with his appeal for the nobler aspirations of the American people,” adding, “If we had real leadership — as we do with Barack Obama — in the No. 2 spot as well, it’d be enormously helpful.”

Mr. Kennedy’s office said that his remarks had been misconstrued and that he had not been talking about Mrs. Clinton when saying what kind of candidate Mr. Obama should turn to. “Senator Kennedy believes Senator Clinton is qualified to be vice president but doesn’t think it’s likely given the tenor of the campaign,” said Mr. Kennedy’s spokesman, Anthony Colley.

Labels: Election 2008, Hillary, The Kennedys

Tales from the Trail » Blog Archive » Clinton gets a boost from a Kennedy | Blogs | Reuters.com

JEFFERSONVILLE, IN. - Robert Kennedy Jr. — a Kennedy who is not backing Sen. Barack Obama — campaigned on Thursday for Sen. Hillary Clinton, saying he wanted to explain why other members of his family are wrong and he is right.

“I am here because I love this woman,” he told a crowd of Clinton supporters in southern Indiana, which holds its presidential nominating primary on Tuesday.

“There are some members of my family who have decided to do the wrong thing and support Barack Obama,” he said. “Let me tell you why they’re wrong and I’m right, because I know Hillary Clinton better than they know Barrack Obama.”

Labels: Election 2008, Hillary, The Kennedys

Labels: Election 2008, Obama, The Kennedys